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Battle for Mexico CityThe Battle for Mexico City refers to the series of engagements from September 8 to September 15, 1847 in the general vicintity of Mexico City during the Mexican-American War. Included are major actions at the battles of Molino del Rey and Chapultepec culminating with the fall of Mexico City.
BackgroundThe major objective of U.S. operations in central Mexico had been the capture of Mexico City. After capturing the port of Veracruz in March, Winfield Scott was able to secure a base and move inland next defeating a large Mexican force at the Battle of Cerro Gordo. After the routing the Mexicans at the Battle of Churubusco, Scott's army was now only 5 miles (8 km) away from its objective of Mexico City. Although defeated at Cerro Gordo and Churubusco, Santa Anna's army remained intact and outnumbered Scott. Order of BattleUnited States
Mexico
The BattlesMolino del ReyMain article: Battle of Molino del Rey On September 8 the fight for Mexico City began. Scott believed that a cannon foundry was located at the Molino del Rey, the King's Mill, located just over 2 miles (3 km) outside the city. Scott sent the 1st Division under William J. Worth to sieze and destroy the foundry. Worth wished to include the castle of Chapultepec into his attack and when Scott refuse a bitter rivalry began between Scott and Worth. In the ensuing battle both sides suffered heavy casualties and Worth drove the Mexicans from the mill separating them from the forces at Chapultepec. The battle produced no significant military gains for the U.S., however. Chapultepec Main article: Battle of Chapultepec The main assault on the city came a few days later on September 12. Mexico City was guarded by the impregnable fortress of Chapultepec. Scott preceded infantry assault with an all day artillery barrage on the 12th. The next day, September 13 the 4th Division, under John A. Quitman spearheaded the attack against Chaoultepec and carried the fortress. Future Confederate generals George E. Pickett and James Longstreet, serving in Quitman's Division, participated in the attack. Serving in the Mexican defense were the cadets later immortalized as Los Niños Héroes (the "Boy Heroes"). The Mexican forces fell back from Chapultepec and retreated within the city. Attacks on the San Cosme and Belén GatesA continuation of the Battle of Chapultepec with Quitman supported by Worth. Quitman's Division made its way down the Belén Causeway towards the Belén Gate while Worth's Division further to the north made its way up La Verónica Causeway towards the San Cosme Gate. Quitman was merely supposed to make a faint towards the city but he pushed forward his whole division and broke through the defenses. Santa Anna personally arrived at the Belén Gate in a fury and personally relieved the front commander. Worth's Division in the meantime had a slow start against after beating off a Mexican cavalry attack. When he reached San Cosme he found its defenses ill prepared but the Mexicans defending it put up a good fight before falling back. Ulysses S. Grant found his way into the action along the causeway on Worth's front and helped in hoisting a cannon into the belltower of a nearby church. From this spot Grant firing into the defenders below. When the fighting subsided on all fronts, both gates had fallen and the Mexicans had withdrawn into the city. The Fall of Mexico CitySanta Anna had withdrawn his army from the city during the night and the U.S. forces, expecting another assault, found the city undefended. Scott gave the honor of formally entering the city to John Quitman's Division. The conquering army was less than impressing, the troops wore ragged and bloodstained uniforms and Quitman only had on one shoe when he marched into the city. Worth personally took down the flag flying over the National Palace and hoisted the U.S. flag in its place. Quitman marched into the Zócalo Plaza in the center of the city in front of the National Palace (romanticized as the "Halls of Montezuma"), where the formal surrender took place. This event was the basis of the lyrics ...from the Halls of Montezuma in the Marines' hymn. Quitman was appointed military governor, becoming the only American to ever rule from the National Palace. CasualtiesSeptember 8
September 12-15
Totals
Sources
See alsoThe contents of this article are licensed from Wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License.
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